Do you stay at birthday parties?

Cassidy went to a birthday party for a church friend yesterday. I stayed home because I'm sick, but DH took her. Last year, I went and all but a couple of the parents stayed. This year, DH said that he was the only parent, but that is because Cassidy didn't want him to leave.

On a side note, we have known this family and most of the families there for several years. Our kids all started off in the church nursery together and have been in Sunday School together ever since.

Regardless of knowing the family well or not, do you stay at birthday parties? What's the norm now? When Cassidy has her party, should I expect all the parents to not stay?

P.S. Cassidy has always had family birthday parties, so her 6th birthday party will be her first friends party.

Comments (19)

All of the birthday parties that we have thrown and attended, parents stayed. However, they have always been HUGE parties.

However, this year, I'm going to have DD invite a couple of close friends, and we will do something fancy and fun. I don't intend to have parents come along, they're welcome to, but I won't be paying for them.

I've always stayed with my kids, until they get older. But, next weekend there is a party my son was invited to and the Mom told me I didn't need to stay. The party is only going to be about 2 houses away from us, so if anything we can be there in a matter of minutes.

Depends on the location. At someone's home, I typically leave. At a large play place, I stay. The place we are considering for ODS's birthday is a big open indoor playhouse and large outside playground. It clearly states in the brochure that parents must stay.

Parents have always stayed at the parties we go to.Â DS was at a party yesterday and all the parents stay and hang out and chat.Â It's almost a party just as much for the parents as it is for the kids.Â LOL.

I've always stayed with my kids, but for the parties I have held at our house the parents never stay. (I also only go to b-day parties of kids whose parents I actaully know, though.) I think it's kind of weird not to stay with them at this age. I'd have been perfectly happy if parents had stayed for our parties since I'd like some company, too. I even fixed food for adults, but I guess they just can't pass on the opportunity to be kid free for a while.